Expansion tool



Feb. 27, 1945. THOMPSON 2,370,333

EXPANSION TOOL Filed Sept. 18, 1943 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSION TOOL Foarde Thompson, Dallas, Tex.

Application September 18, 1943, Serial No. 502,935

Claims.

This invention relates to expanding tools and it has particular reference to such a tool designed to facilitate the application of insulating material to tanks, pipes and other curved or rounded surfaces. :4

The principal object of the invention is to provide means through which much time and labor is saved by dispensing with the practice of stretching sheets of insulating material by hand preparatory to securing them in place and substituting therefor the method-afforded by the present invention which enables the operator to quickly and eihciently draw the confronting ends, sides or edges of the material together in position for securement in any conventional manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character specified consisting of an operating handle, to which is pivotally and adjustably attached a curved arm, each having on their operative ends a head provided with interchangeable or replaceable teeth for engagement with the material to be stretched or expanded and by proper actuation of the handle, the two heads are brought towards each other to impose I .ing material other than insulating sheets, such as netted or woven fabric or the like so that one or both hands may be free for tying the contracted edges of the material handled.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is, a perspective view of a tool con-' structed to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the toothed heads, with portions broken away.

Figure 3 is a similarview of the companion head whose parts are separated.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing one form of application of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a slightly modified form of the invention in which the parts are capable of being locked in adjusted positions.

Heretofore, the general method employed for contracting insulating sheets onto the surfaces of tanks, conduits, pipes and the like consisted of drawing the sheets tight by hand. As a re sult, the material, usually expanded metal on which heat resisting material is applied, is not properly tensioned and further, much time which could otherwise be conserved, is expended in this work.

Accordingly, and with more detailed reference to the drawing, numeral I0 denotes a handle on one end of which there is provided a cross-head H or other means of gripping the same, while its opposite end carries a toothed head 12.

The head i2 is preferably made in sections, one consisting of the head proper while the other is comprised of a cleat, conforming to and lying in a recess a transversely across the lip of the head A2. The two parts are held together by means of bolts I l. Jointly in the cleat I3 and the base of the recess a of the head, a series of depressions b are made to accommodate teeth i5, which are equi-distantly spaced, as shown in Figure l.

The teeth l5 are curved at their outer ends to a position at substantially right angles to the bodies thereof to better engage the insulating material l6 (Figure 4) and further, in order to hold the teeth against rotative displacement in their sockets b, the inner ends of the teeth are bent into L-shape to conform to the similarly shaped portions of the depressions b. Obviously, other methods may be adopted with equal results to hold the teeth against rotation but that described and shown is preferred in View of its simplicity and efiectiveness.

Connected pivotally to the shank of the handle 10 is a curved arm, consisting'of parallel members ll.

It is preferred that the pivotal connection be tween the handle and arm be capable of ad- 'ustment along the axis of the handle to shorten and lengthen the working range between these elements. With this in view, a series of relatively spaced apertures [8 are provided in the handle, corresponding to similar apertures I8a in the arm, as shown. Obviously, by connecting the arm to the aperture, by means of pin IS, the operating range of the tool is at its maximum. Conversely, the lowest position minimizes the range. The apertures l8a in the army provide further adjustment similarly without changing the relative movement between the operative ends of the arm and handle. A stop 20 is interposed between the members ll of the arm to limit the relative displacement of the arm and handle.

Mounted on the free ends of the members ll of the curved arm is another toothed head 2|. This head is also made up of separable parts, each of which has corresponding recesses or depressions c to jointly receive teeth 22. The two conforming sections of the head 2! are held together by means of bolts 23.

As in the head l2 of the handle, the teeth 22 of the head 2| are required to be held against displacement inasmuch as they do not have intermediate bends as do the teeth [5 and rotation is of no consequence. As a means to prevent axial displacement, heads 24 are provided on the teeth 22 which are received in conforming parts of the recesses c, as shown in the cut-away portion of Figure 2. i

It is apparent Iromthe foregoing that when the teeth I5 of the head l2 are engaged in the interstices of the material IS on one edge, with the teeth 22 of the head 2| similarly engaged I1' body of the material It surrounding thecyllndrical object 25. Obviously, the tension imposed depends upon the pressure applied to the handle [0. After the two edges of the insulating sheet have been brought into conti'guity, a suitable fastening means may be applied.

In some cases such as in stretching chicken wire 'or other woven fabric, it may be desired to secure th'e'handle and arm in relatively contracted positions so that both hands may 'be used for tying or for other purposes. As a means to' accomplishthis, the structure shown in Figure is provided and consists of a lever 26, pivoted at one endto an ear 2i, formed on the head 2'8 with its opposite end free and extended between the two curved and parallel members forming the arm 29. The lever 26 has along one edge a series of ratchet teeth 30 which are relatively engageable with a stationary dog 3|, situated between the members of the arm 29.

The lever 26, being loosely positioned, will move away from the dog 3!. as the arm and handle are actuated to move their respective heads to any contracted position. To latch the members, it'is simply necessary to move the lever 26' so thata selected one of its teeth 30 will engage behind the dog 3| and will be thus held to preventrelative expansion of the arm and handle. The tension of'the material itself will provide the pressure which holds the parts in latched relationship.

"Mani-festl'y, the construction shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be considered as falling within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An expansion tool including a handle and a curved arm pivoted adjustably adjacent one end to the shank of said handle, a head composed of separable sections secured at the opposite end of said arm, a head also carried by said handle in opposed relationship with said first head and likewise composed oi separable sections, a transverse series of relatively parallel teeth replaceably mounted in each of said heads and means for securing said head sections together.

2. A tool of the character described including ahandle, a'curved arm having adjustable pivotal connection adjacent one end to the shank of said handle, a sectional head mounted on the opposite end oi said arm, a series of relatively parallel teeth removably mounted in and extending from said head, a head also mounted on the end of said handle, a plurality of parallel and curved teeth in said latter head and means for holding said curved teeth against rotation in said head.

3. A tool for expanding insulating material in mounting comprising a handle and a curved arm having a series of aligned apertures corresponding to aligned apertures axially in said handle for selective pivotal connection between said handle and arm, a head on the ends of said handle and arm in opposed relationship, a plurality of teeth in each of said heads and means to effect removal and replacement of said teeth.

4. A tool for mounting insulating sheets and the like comprising a handle and an arm connectable pivotally at one of a variety of positions adjacent one end to corresponding positions axially along the shank of said handle, a head also carried by said arm, a plurality of relatively parallel teeth removably mounted therein and means to secure said teeth in their respective head.

5. A tool of the character described including a handle and an arm adiustably pivoted adjacent one end to selective positions along the shank of said handle, a head on corresponding ends of said handle and arm, each having a transverse series of work engaging teeth therein in parallel relationship and means pivoted to the head of said handle and cooperating with means carried by said arm to secure said arm and handle in selectively adjusted positions on the work.

' FOARDE THOMPSON. 

